Borate is a mineral salt of boric acid. The active component is boron. This substance is mined from the earth and applied mostly for industrial purposes. Another substance from boron is Sodium borate or borax. It is officially called orthoborate or disodium octaborate tetrahydrate (DOT). It is widely used for medical and household applications. Moreover, the effectiveness of borax to kill termites and to protect timber and wood from future infestations is evident. It is a low-cost remedy you can buy at the pest control store to eridicate home insects.

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Borate is a natural compound, which is broadly mined from the land. Salt flats near Death Valley

How can borax get rid of termites?

Borax to kill termites has proved to be very effective and orally toxic to pests. That fact that borax can be used to get rid of termites is obvious. Boric acid does not work on contact. It is necessary to make insects to ingest borates. Once eaten, borax acid comes into operation and starts killing a termite destroying its stomach and nervous system. Termites die just from dehydration.

Is borax treatment safe and environmentally friendly?

Boric acid in borax is a natural pesticide and wood preservative against termites and wood-consuming and wood-destroying insects. Moreover, it can be used inside and outside the home, as it is environmentally sensitive and safe to humans, plants and animals if used as directed. Of course, the homeowners and operators must be aware of hazards and avoid spillage into soil and water. This green approach to termite extermination makes insecticides with boric acid very popular and easy-to-use yourself.

It is also important to be careful when working with borate powder and to aviod breathing the dust and contaminating the water reservoirs with borax solution for termites.

How can you use borax to kill termites?

There is a great variety of professional and homemade remedies from boric acid: borax spray for termites, dry powder, borax mix, solutions and powder for making them, foams, boracide gel, borax soap for termites and baiting systems. All these means are cheap and very easy to use for termit treatment and termit control diy.

The dry powder is applied to treat cracks and crevices in wood and timber.
Baits are filled with borax to kill termites and left where pest activity being observed.
Borax solutions and mixes are sprayed into the trench of infested soil or “painted” on wood surfaces.
Borax foams are injected into wall voids, drilled holes and nest openings.

How does borax insecticide work?

When termites walk through borax dust, the smallest particles of powder stick to their body, antennae and legs. Then they ingest borate toxin grooming themselves. They can also eat poison directly from cheap termite bait stations and borax painted food sources containing wood. When ingested, borax acts as a poison in the stomach and results in death of the termite within three days to a week.

How to dissolve borax in water?

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Borate is a white DOT powder, which is highly soluble in water. DOT home products are sold in the form of dust, which can be used as a stand alone product or can be dissolved in water to get finished solutions of different concentrations.

Boric acid is the active ingredient of professional insecticides, namely Tim-Bor, Bora Care, Shell Guard, Borax and Jecta Gel. Follow the instructions on the label of pesticide containers to dilute powder with water. As a rule, borate powder should be dissolved in warm water before use (1:1 dilution). Borax termicide is dissolved this way: 1 teaspoon of borax powder per 8 oz hot water, mix until diluted completely. It is obligatory the concentration of borax solution to be below 2% in order the termite to reach the nest and contaminate the others.

How long does borax powder and solutions remain in force?

Borax treatment is not long lasting. The significant results can be seen after 10-21 days after treatment. For preventative and control measures it is necessary to repeat application regularly. It is also required to protect treated wood from excess rain and moisture.

How to use borax as wood preservative?

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For long-lasting effective termite control and wood protection against future insect infestations, use borax to coat the entire pieces of wood and wooden structures in pre-construction period before building a house.

Actually it is better and more efficient to take preventive measures before building and constructing a house than to treat termite infested structures. For the termite control and wood preservative purposes, the homeowners can use Tim-bor professional powder, which is diluted with water. You can use borate solutions to coat, spray or paint with brush all foundation and attic structures, timber, wooden surfaces to preserve them from future termite attacks. Borate foam and borax dust can be used for this purpose and injected into building structures to repel wood-destroying and cellulose-consuming pests.

How is it not long-lasting when applied after construction but long-lasting when applied before construction? If you are diligent and thorough, post construction application should be equally effective and long-lasting.